Method and system for distributed camera network

ABSTRACT

A method at an image capture apparatus, the method including receiving, at the image capture apparatus, a trigger to begin image capture; based on the trigger, starting image capture for a fixed duration; and providing image capture data to a processing service.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to security systems, and in particularrelates to security systems having dynamic camera placement.

BACKGROUND

In many areas, closed circuit video surveillance systems may beinefficient. For example, in shipping yards, trailer yards, rail yardsor other similar storage facilities, the size and dynamic nature of thestorage area may cause the use of closed circuit camera systems to beinefficient and unsecure. In particular, these yards have severalproblems for traditional security systems. The yards may be massive,covering many acres of land. To outfit this with a closed-circuittelevision surveillance system would take massive investment andhundreds of cameras just to capture some of the area. In many cases,typical yards only install a few cameras, but having a limited number ofcameras for such a large area makes it unlikely to capture enough detailof any potential incident to make the installation of the camerasworthwhile.

Further, in yards such as rail yards, trailer yards, or shipping yards,the entrances or exits are vague. It would be very easy for criminals toenter from just about any direction. Thus, positioning the limitednumber of cameras at entry or exit points is not very effective, sincemany events may be missed. Due to the size of such storage yards, acriminal may also easily hide from single point cameras by simplyapproaching from other directions.

Yards may also shift over time. They may overflow into adjacent areas,fields or parking lots. They may shrink. Yards may grow up or out. Theymay “move” with time, for example lanes/alleys, parking locations maydrift, making static mounting points for cameras and securitychallenging.

In other examples, the use of fixed position cameras may be expensive orlogistically problematic. It may be difficult or expensive to run powerand video cables to cameras. Conditions around a camera location mayalso change over time, resulting in a need to move such cameras.Therefore, in many cases static camera networks can be challenging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood with reference to thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example storage yard and the componentstherein;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example image sensor apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example architecture for someembodiments of the present disclosure showing a plurality of sensorapparatus;

FIG. 4 is a process diagram showing a process for triggering imagecapture and determining whether to relay the trigger;

FIG. 5 is a data flow diagram showing the relaying of triggers forstarting image capture;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a simplified computing device capable ofperforming the embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is an example user interface showing image data stitched togetheron a map.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a method at an image capture apparatus,the method comprising: receiving, at the image capture apparatus, atrigger to begin image capture; based on the trigger, starting imagecapture for a fixed duration; and providing image capture data to aprocessing service.

The present disclosure further provides an image capture apparatuscomprising: a processor; a communications subsystem; and at least onesensor for capturing images, wherein the image capture apparatus isconfigured to: receive, at the image capture apparatus, a trigger tobegin image capture; based on the trigger, start image capture for afixed duration; and provide image capture data to a processing service.

The present disclosure further provides a computer readable medium forstoring program instructions, which, when executed by a processor of animage capture apparatus, cause the image capture apparatus to: receive,at the image capture apparatus, a trigger to begin image capture; basedon the trigger, start image capture for a fixed duration; and provideimage capture data.

The embodiments of the present disclosure are described below using theenvironment of a storage yard as an example. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to use within such storage yards, and theembodiments can be used in other scenarios, such as for securing a homeor business, providing security temporarily in a location, or providingsecurity in an outdoor venue or location, among other options.

As indicated above, storage yards such as rail yards, trailer yards,shipping yards, among other locations may be difficult to secure.Further, other areas associated with the transportation of goods,including truck stops, warehousing locations among others may also bedifficult to secure.

For example, reference is made to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a simplifiedenvironment of a storage yard 110. Storage yard 110 includes a pluralityof shipping containers 120. In some cases, the shipping containers 120may be within a fenced area 130. However, due to the dynamic nature ofthe shipping yard, some containers, shown with reference 122, areoutside of the fenced area 130. Further, in many cases storage yard 110may simply be too big to have a fenced area 130.

Fixed infrastructure points within the storage yard 110 may exist. Forexample, a building 140 or a fixed structure 150 such as a lamppost,security pole, or crane, among other options, may exist within thestorage yard 110.

Under traditional security models, cameras may be affixed within thestorage yard 110. For example, they may be affixed to building 140 orfixed structure 150.

Further, an entrance point 160 may also have cameras and/or securitypersonnel located therein.

However, a thief may easily circumvent such security by breaching thefence 130 and entering the yard. Due to the size of typical yards, thismay be a relatively straightforward process. A thief may easilycircumvent fixed cameras such as those on building 140 or fixedstructure 150, and even if some images from these cameras capture thethief, the limited number of images may not provide enough detail orresolution to identify the thief, goods being taken, or other similarinformation.

Therefore, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,a dynamic and distributed image capture system is provided. Inparticular, in one embodiment, a subset of containers 120 or 122 mayhave associated therewith an image capture apparatus that can betriggered to start or stop capturing images and communicate the resultsto a centralized server.

Such image capture apparatus may, in some embodiments, be a powerlimited device, such as a battery-operated device, to allow the systemto be deployed without a fixed power supply. However, because the imagecapture device is power limited, it cannot continuously capture imageswithout quickly draining the battery or otherwise taxing the powersource.

In one embodiment, the image capture apparatus uses fleet managementtracking devices on the shipping containers 120 or 122. Specifically, inmany instances shipping containers or truck trailers are equipped withsensors that may have communication capabilities and provide informationabout such shipping container or trailer. For example, the sensors mayprovide temperature readings, location readings through a positioningsystem such as the global positioning system (GPS), vibration sensors,accelerometers, gyroscopes, among other sensor information.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an image sensor apparatus,such as a camera may be added to such tracking device. In a furtherembodiment, an image capture apparatus may be provided as a standalonesolution, outside of any tracking system.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows an example image sensorapparatus 210. Image sensor apparatus can be any computing device ornetwork node. Such computing device or network node may include any typeof electronic device, including but not limited to, mobile devices suchas smartphones or cellular telephones. Examples can further includefixed or mobile devices, such as internet of things devices, endpoints,home automation devices, medical equipment in hospital or homeenvironments, inventory tracking devices, environmental monitoringdevices, energy management devices, infrastructure management devices,vehicles or devices for vehicles, fixed electronic devices, amongothers.

Image sensor apparatus 210 comprises a processor 220 and at least onecommunications subsystem 230, where the processor 220 and communicationssubsystem 230 cooperate to perform the methods of the embodimentsdescribed herein. Communications subsystem 230 may, in some embodiments,comprise multiple subsystems, for example for different radiotechnologies.

Communications subsystem 230 allows device 210 to communicate with otherdevices or network elements. Communications subsystem 230 may use one ormore of a variety of communications types, including but not limited tocellular, satellite, Bluetooth™, Bluetooth™ Low Energy, Wi-Fi, wirelesslocal area network (WLAN), near field communications (NFC), Zigbee,wired connections such as Ethernet or fiber, among other options.

As such, a communications subsystem 230 for wireless communications willtypically have one or more receivers and transmitters, as well asassociated components such as one or more antenna elements, localoscillators (LOs), and may include a processing module such as a digitalsignal processor (DSP). As will be apparent to those skilled in thefield of communications, the particular design of the communicationsubsystem 230 will be dependent upon the communication network orcommunication technology on which the image sensor apparatus is intendedto operate.

Processor 220 generally controls the overall operation of the imagecapture device 210 and is configured to execute programmable logic,which may be stored, along with data, using memory 240. Memory 240 canbe any tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium,including but not limited to optical (e.g., CD, DVD, etc.), magnetic(e.g., tape), flash drive, hard drive, or other memory known in the art.

Alternatively, or in addition to memory 240, image sensor apparatus 210may access data or programmable logic from an external storage medium,for example through communications subsystem 230.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, image sensor apparatus 210 may utilize aplurality of sensors, which may either be part of image sensor apparatus210 in some embodiments or may communicate with sensor apparatus 210 inother embodiments. For internal sensors, processor 220 may receive inputfrom a sensor subsystem 250.

Examples of sensors in the embodiment of FIG. 2 include a positioningsensor 251, a vibration sensor 252, a temperature sensor 253, one ormore image sensors 254, accelerometer 255, light sensors 256, gyroscopicsensors 257, and other sensors 258. Other sensors may be any sensor thatis capable of reading or obtaining data that may be useful for imagesensor apparatus 210. However, the sensors shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 2 are merely examples, and in other embodiments different sensorsor a subset of sensors shown in FIG. 2 may be used.

Communications between the various elements of image sensor apparatus210 may be through an internal bus 260 in one embodiment. However, otherforms of communication are possible.

Image sensor apparatus 210 may be affixed to any fixed or portableplatform. For example, image sensor apparatus 210 may be affixed toshipping containers, truck trailers, truck cabs in one embodiment. Inother embodiments, image sensor apparatus 210 may be affixed to anyvehicle, including motor vehicles (e.g., automobiles, cars, trucks,buses, motorcycles, etc.), aircraft (e.g., airplanes, unmanned aerialvehicles, unmanned aircraft systems, drones, helicopters, etc.),spacecraft (e.g., spaceplanes, space shuttles, space capsules, spacestations, satellites, etc.), watercraft (e.g., ships, boats, hovercraft,submarines, etc.), railed vehicles (e.g., trains and trams, etc.), andother types of vehicles including any combinations of any of theforegoing, whether currently existing or after arising, among others.

In other cases, image sensor apparatus 210 could be carried by a user.

In other cases, sensor apparatus 210 may be affixed to stationaryobjects including buildings, lamp posts, fences, cranes, among otheroptions.

Such sensor apparatus 210 may be a power limited device. For exampleimage sensor apparatus 210 could be a battery operated device that canbe affixed to a shipping container or trailer in some embodiments. Otherlimited power sources could include any limited power supply, such as asmall generator or dynamo, a fuel cell, solar power, among otheroptions.

In other embodiments, sensor apparatus 210 may utilize external power,for example from the engine of a tractor pulling the trailer, from aland power source for example on a plugged in recreational vehicle orfrom a building power supply, among other options.

External power may further allow for recharging of batteries to allowthe sensor apparatus 210 to then operate in a power limited mode again.Further, recharging methods may also include other power sources, suchas, but not limited to, solar, electromagnetic, acoustic, or vibrationcharging.

Referring again to FIG. 1, if the sensor apparatus 210 from FIG. 2 isaffixed to a plurality of the shipping containers 120 then a dynamicsecurity network may be created as described below. Specifically,assuming that the image sensor apparatus 210 is installed on a number ofcargo containers or shipping containers, then even at low penetrationrates a given yard may have a number of cameras. For example, even atpenetration rates of 1%, 5% or 10%, a yard that has a hundred or athousand shipping containers will have many cameras that are availablefor providing security.

Due to the nature of the storage yard 110, the cameras would likely bedistributed around the yard. Further, since shipping containers may bestacked or parallel or perpendicular or at other angles to each other,the image capture mechanism may provide various angles to allow for acomprehensive security solution, as described below.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3. which shows one example architecturethat may be utilized in accordance with the present disclosure. Inparticular, the example architecture of FIG. 3 has three movable imagesensor apparatuses, namely image sensor apparatus 310, image sensorapparatus 312, and image sensor apparatus 314.

Further, a plurality of fixed image sensor apparatus may exist withinthe network in some embodiments. These are shown, for example, as fixedsensor apparatus 320 and fixed sensor apparatus 322.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the movable sensor apparatuses 310, 312 and314 communicate through an access point 330 or base station 332, andthereby can communicate over a wide area network such as the Internet334. In other embodiments, the movable sensor apparatuses 310, 312 and314 may communicate through other mechanisms over Internet 334, such asa fixed connection or any other wired or wireless communications.

Further, fixed sensor apparatus 320 and fixed sensor apparatus 322 maycommunicate with access point 330 or base station 332 in someembodiments. In other embodiments, the fixed sensor apparatus 320 and/orfixed sensor apparatus 322 may communicate through other mechanisms overInternet 334, such as a fixed connection or any other wired or wirelesscommunications.

While the embodiment of FIG. 3 only shows one access point 330, in otherembodiments a plurality of access points may be provided within an areathat is to be secured.

Further, the information from any of sensor apparatus 310, 312, 314, 320and 322 may be provided to one or more servers 340 or 342. For example,if the sensor apparatus 310 and 312 belong to a first company, suchapparatus may communicate with a first company's server 340. Sensorapparatus 314 may belong to a second company and may thereforecommunicate with a second company's server 342.

In other embodiments, a single company may have a plurality of servers.A server, central server, processing service, endpoint, Uniform ResourceIdentifier (URI), Uniform Resource Locator (URL), back-end, and/orprocessing system may be used interchangeably in the descriptionsherein. The server functionality typically represents dataprocessing/reporting that are not closely tied to the location ofmovable image capture apparatuses 310, 212, 314, etc. For example, theserver may be located essentially anywhere so long as it has networkaccess (e.g., 334) to communicate with image capture apparatuses 310,212, 314, etc.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the variousfixed or mobile apparatuses may also communicate with each other. Thus,apparatus 310 may communicate directly with apparatus 312 or apparatus314 in some embodiments. Further, apparatus 310 may communicate withfixed apparatus 320 or 322 in some embodiments.

Further, the owners of the servers 340 and 342 may have agreements toallow communication between such servers for use in securityapplications.

The example architecture of FIG. 3 is merely provided for illustrationpurposes and is not limiting to any particular apparatus orarchitecture. For example, in some cases apparatus 310 may only be ableto communicate with apparatus 312 since they are owned by the samecompany. In other cases, apparatus 310 could communicate with apparatus314 if there is an agreement for security purposes. In other cases,apparatus 310 may not be able to communicate directly with apparatus 322since the distance between the two may be too far to allow for suchcommunications.

In other cases, apparatus 310 may be out of range of access point 330and may therefore utilize another apparatus such as apparatus 312 as arelay for providing information to server 340.

As described above, in many cases, an image sensor apparatus may be alimited power device. For example, the device may operate using abattery. Because of the limited power, the image sensor apparatus doesnot continually capture images. Continual image capture would drain thebattery far too quickly and provide information which may not berelevant most the time. Thus, in accordance with the embodimentsdescribed herein, a sensor apparatus may act based on a trigger.

In particular, reference is now made to FIG. 4, which shows a processfor image capture by a sensor apparatus 210.

The process of FIG. 4 starts at block 410 and proceeds to block 412, inwhich a check is made to determine whether a trigger has been received.The trigger at block 412 may be any trigger that the processor of sensorapparatus 210 deems to be a reason to start capturing information.

For example, if the sensor apparatus 210 is affixed to the rear of atrailer, then a door status sensor associated with sensor apparatus 210may be provided to detect when a door of the trailer is opened. In suchcase, the door opening event may trigger the sensor apparatus to startrecording information.

In other cases, vibration sensors may indicate that someone has enteredor left the trailer.

In other cases, motion sensors may detect motion near the vicinity ofthe sensor apparatus.

In other cases, heat sensors may detect the presence of a person oranomaly within or outside of the trailer.

Other examples are possible.

Further, in some cases, the trigger at block 412 could be a signal fromanother transmitter. Such transmitter may, for example, be a centralizedlocation or monitoring station which is directing the sensor apparatusto wake up.

The trigger may also be a signal from another nearby sensor apparatusindicating that there may be an issue and sensors in the vicinity shouldwake up.

In some embodiments, the trigger may be dependent on location. Forexample, the sensor apparatus 210 may not start to monitor for triggersuntil it enters a particular area or geofence. Thus, in accordance withone embodiment, the process of FIG. 4 would be avoided until theapparatus enters an area where image capture may be needed. Once sensorapparatus 210 enters the particular area, it can start to listen fortriggers, whether they are from local sensors such as the vibration ordoor opening sensors, or whether they are from other transmitters.

The present disclosure is not limited to any particular trigger.

From block 412 the process proceeds to block 420 in which image capturemay occur. Such image capture may be continuous in some embodiments. Forexample, the trigger event may indicate to the processor to startcapturing continuous video for the next five minutes. The capturedinformation may be conveyed to a central server in some embodiments toalert security and to provide information to security. In otherembodiments the captured information may be stored on the image sensorapparatus for later processing.

Other examples may include capturing a periodic image for a timeduration. Specifically, the processor may cause a camera to take apicture every second for the next three minutes. Duration may alsoindicate a single picture being taken, a series of photos being takenperiodically at a predetermined time between shots, a continuous seriesof photos, or pictures being taken by a profile that may includeirregular sampling times.

In other cases, the image capture may continue until the sensorapparatus 210 is told to stop capturing images.

Other examples would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

From block 420, the process proceeds to block 430 in which a check ismade to determine whether or not any other sensor apparatus is needed tocapture images. In particular, depending on the original trigger eventat block 412, it may be desirable to capture images from a nearby sensorapparatus as well as the current sensor apparatus.

For example, if the trailer detects a door opening event that isunexpected, then the sensor apparatus on the trailer may ask nearbytrailers to start taking pictures to capture images of the person thatopened the trailer. By employing nearby trailers, the likelihood ofobtaining a good quality picture of the person that opened the trailerdoor is enhanced by a covering various egress routes and allowing fordifferent lighting conditions within the trailer yard.

If, as determined at block 430, other sensors need to be woken, then theprocess proceeds to block 440 in which a message is sent. Such messageat block 440 may either be sent to a central controller which could thenactivate other sensors within the vicinity of the triggered sensor. Forexample, a sensor apparatus may periodically report to a central serverto indicate its status and location. Such location could then be used tofind image sensors apparatuses within a radius, or predefined distance,of the original trigger event. Moreover, the radius or distance may bedefined by a geofence or other spatial definition that could projectonly from a particular range of direction from the sensor apparatuses(e.g, where the camera has a view such as the back of the trailer andsomewhat to the sides depending on the lens configuration). Examples mayinclude a wedge shape, circle, rectangle, square, or the distance may beirregular.

Alternatively, the message at block 440 may be sent directly to theother sensor apparatuses in the nearby vicinity.

From block 440, the process may proceed to block 450 and end.

Further, from block 430, if other sensors do not need to be informed ofthe event then the process proceeds to block 450 and ends.

An example of messages that may be sent between devices is provided withregard to the embodiment of FIG. 5. In particular, in the embodiment ofFIG. 5, a transmitter 510 may be the device that receives the alert ormay be a centralized controller for the security system, acting throughan access point. Transmitter 510 communicates with a first device 512.Device 512 may be a fixed or mobile image sensor apparatus.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, transmitter 510 sends image sensorapparatus 512 a wake-up trigger 520. Wake up trigger 520 may provide atrigger to device 512 to start capturing images. The capturing of imagesis shown by block 522.

Further, apparatus 512 may need to relay the message 522 to otherapparatuses within the vicinity in some embodiments. This is shown, forexample, by decision block 530 which checks whether to relay theinformation.

If the apparatus 512 needs to relay the information, as determined atblock 530, then a wake-up trigger 532 may be provided to a second imagecapture apparatus 514.

Again, image capture apparatus 514 receives wake-up trigger 532 and maystart capturing images, shown by block 540. Apparatus 514 may similarlydecide whether to relay the wake-up trigger, as shown by block 542.

The contents of wake-up trigger 520 may depend on the particularscenario or deployment situation. However, one example of informationthat may be contained in wake up trigger 520 is provided in Table 1below.

TABLE 1 Example wake-up trigger Event ID Device ID Position Range AlertType Server for reporting Time of event Duration of capture Report time

As seen in Table 1 above, the wake-up trigger may include variousinformation. Example information may include an event identifier toallow for the unique identification of a particular event and to allow aserver or centralized controller to stitch various captured images fromthe event together. The event identifier may, for example, be part of adevice identifier along with a number that may be incremented by theapparatus. For example, if a first sensor detects the event, it maystore its own device identifier along with a sequence number that may beappended to the device identifier to provide an event ID. Other examplesof providing unique event identifiers would be apparent to those skilledin the art.

The wake up trigger of Table 1 above may further include a deviceidentifier for the device that originated the trigger in someembodiments.

The wake-up trigger 520 may further include the position of theapparatus that activated the trigger. For example, on portable devices,this may be determined through a position acquisition system such as aGPS system. In other embodiments, the position may be based on theaccess point or networks that the device can see. Other options forpositioning are possible.

In some embodiments, wake up trigger 520 may include a range. This maybe used, for example, to ask apparatuses within a particular range ofthe original apparatus that initiated the trigger to wake up. Such otherapparatuses would therefore utilize their own position information andto determine whether they are within the range of the originalapparatus' position in order to start capturing images or not.

In some cases, the event or alert types may be provided in wake uptrigger 520. Thus, various events may cause different behavior amongvarious apparatuses and the determination of whether to activate imagecapture may partially depend on the alert type provided in wake-upmessage 520 in some embodiments.

Further, wake up message 520 may include information such as whichserver to report the captured image to. For example, if a plurality ofsensor owners have trailers within a shipping yard, then the images maybe desired at a single server in order to allow for the security tocorrectly capture and mesh all of the images together.

In some embodiments, trigger 520 may include a time that the eventoccurred and a duration for reporting.

In some embodiments, trigger 520 may provide a timeslot that aparticular device should use for communicating captured images. This maybe used, for example, to avoid collisions in communications from thevarious image sensor apparatuses.

In other embodiments, more or less information than that shown in Tablecould be provided between devices or between servers and devices. Theexample wake-up trigger in Table 1 above is therefore only provided forillustration purposes.

Once the images are captured, they may be reported to a server. Forexample, Table 2 provides information that may be provided to a server.

TABLE 2 Example image capture data Event ID Device ID Position ofCapturing device Bearing of image capture device Image data

From Table 2 above, each image capture apparatus may convey image datato a server. The message with the image data may include variousinformation.

For example, from Table 2 above, the message may include the eventidentifier that was either created at the image capture device or wasreceived as a trigger at the image capture device.

The message may further include a unique device identifier in someembodiments.

The message may further include the position of the image sensorapparatus that captured the images. As the image sensor apparatus may bemovable, such information allows the receiving server to pinpoint thelocation that the image data was captured.

The message may further include a bearing indicating the direction inwhich the camera or image capture device was pointing. Specifically, thebearing may be known from an internal compass type sensor on the imagecapture apparatus, or may be known from image processing on the capturedimages when compared to a database, among other options. The bearing mayindicate the direction in which the camera is pointing to allow imagesto be stitched together.

Further if the image capture device has multiple cameras, image datafrom the different cameras can be separated and the bearings for eachcamera provided. Thus, for example, if a trailer mounted sensor has acamera pointed into the trailer and one pointed behind the trailer,image data from both may be conveyed to the server, where image datapointing into the trailer is distinguished in the message from imagedata from behind the trailer.

By receiving multiple messages such as those provided in Table 2, aserver can stitch together the information to create a profile for anevent.

Based on the above, a dynamic security network that can be activated bya central controller such as a yard manager, or may activateautomatically when a problem is detected, is created.

For example, a robber enters a yard with 1000 trailers. Assume 100 thesetrailers have a sensor apparatus 210 installed. This means that thatthere are 100 different angles and points of security inside amedium-sized shipping yard. By coordinating such security, the yard isprovided with a relatively low cost and highly effective securitynetwork.

For example, in one embodiment, a yard worker may detect a threat andcould ask all 100 trailers to take pictures or record a short videousing a command console at a central location.

In another embodiment, an event such as a vibration or a door openingfor a container may trigger a single device to take pictures or videosof what is happening. The situation made then be escalated to ask thatpictures be taken by other devices within the nearby vicinity.

In another embodiment, the detection of the event by one device leads toan alert which wakes up all devices within a defined radius to takephotos or videos. For example, such radius may be defined in meters,yards or kilometers or miles. In other embodiments the radius may be thecommunications range of the trigger signal.

In another embodiment, photos may be taken from outside the container todetect the actors involved.

In other embodiments, the photos or images may be taken inside acontainer to detect what is occurring inside the container, what goodsare being taken, what is being moved, among other options.

In a further embodiment, photos or images may be taken and then uploadedto a server and the server may then stitch together the photos orvideos. For example, this may be done through a unique identifier insome embodiments. The photos or videos that are uploaded to the servermay further include other information, including GPS or compassdirections and therefore the meshing of the images may create a virtualcrime scene from many angles.

For example, one simplified server that may perform the stitching isprovided with regards to FIG. 6.

In FIG. 6, server 610 includes a processor 620 and a communicationssubsystem 630, where the processor 620 and communications subsystem 630cooperate to perform the methods of the embodiments described herein.

Processor 620 is configured to execute programmable logic, which may bestored, along with data, on server 610, and shown in the example of FIG.6 as memory 640. Memory 640 can be any tangible, non-transitory computerreadable storage medium, such as optical (e.g., CD, DVD, etc.), magnetic(e.g., tape), flash drive, hard drive, or other memory known in the art.

Alternatively, or in addition to memory 640, server 610 may access dataor programmable logic from an external storage medium, for examplethrough communications subsystem 630.

Communications subsystem 630 allows server 610 to communicate with otherdevices or network elements.

Communications between the various elements of server 610 may be throughan internal bus 660 in one embodiment. However, other forms ofcommunication are possible.

Server 610 may compile all image data related to an event or for aparticular location during a time interval, and display such data, forexample on an interactive map. For example, image data may include alocation for the data, and may further include an orientation for theimage capture. Such data may then be placed on a map. Reference is nowmade to FIG. 7.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a map may include, for example, an image offixed structures of a storage yard. The map may further include icons710 that can be used to display captured images. In one embodiment theorientation of the icon could represent the orientation of the imagecapture device. In some embodiments, the trigger site might be shownwith a special icon 712.

In some cases, a time bar 720 which may allow icons 710 to appear ordisappear depending on whether images were being captured during thetime interval indicated by the time bar.

Other options for stitching the image data together are possible. Forexample, in one embodiment the actual image that was captured may bedisplayed on the map, and images may change as the time bar is moved.

While the above describes a storage yard such as a trailer yard or railyard, in other embodiments the above disclosure could be utilized in theworld at large. In this case, the sensor apparatus may become part of amobile surveillance device. It could therefore be utilized by others tocapture areas of interest. For example, in some cases, law enforcementmay activate image sensor apparatuses within a predetermined area inorder to capture images. For example, this may be activated during abank robbery in order to try to determine the direction that the bankrobbers left, capture the license plate of the bank robber or captureimages of the faces of the bank robbers. Other examples are possible.

The embodiments described herein solve various issues. Specifically, theembodiments provide a low-cost solution since the image sensorapparatuses may already be part of containers, on vehicles or in otherfixed situations. In the shipping yard example, the yard is typicallycovered relatively well since such shipping containers tend to getrandomly distributed.

The embodiments described may provide image capture for various anglesfor a crime scene, increasing chances of seeing a face or providing moredetails with regard to the event.

The use of many devices would provide investigators with more details.Further, the use of sensing apparatus may not be obvious to robbers orother actors since they form part of the infrastructure.

Also, in some embodiments, the security system shifts as the storageyard shifts.

The embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems ormethods having elements corresponding to elements of the techniques ofthis application. This written description may enable those skilled inthe art to make and use embodiments having alternative elements thatlikewise correspond to the elements of the techniques of thisapplication. The intended scope of the techniques of this applicationthus includes other structures, systems or methods that do not differfrom the techniques of this application as described herein, and furtherincludes other structures, systems or methods with insubstantialdifferences from the techniques of this application as described herein.

While operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order,this should not be understood as requiring that such operations beperformed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or thatall illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may beemployed. Moreover, the separation of various system components in theimplementation descried above should not be understood as requiring suchseparation in all implementations, and it should be understood that thedescribed program components and systems can generally be integratedtogether in a signal software product or packaged into multiple softwareproducts.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various implementations as discrete or separate maybe combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupledor communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled orcommunicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component,whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples ofchanges, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilledin the art and may be made.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout the fundamental novel features of the disclosure as applied tovarious implementations, it will be understood that various omissions,substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the systemillustrated may be made by those skilled in the art. In addition, theorder of method steps are not implied by the order they appear in theclaims.

When messages are sent to/from an electronic device, such operations maynot be immediate or from the server directly. They may be synchronouslyor asynchronously delivered, from a server or other computing systeminfrastructure supporting the devices/methods/systems described herein.The foregoing steps may include, in whole or in part,synchronous/asynchronous communications to/from thedevice/infrastructure. Moreover, communication from the electronicdevice may be to one or more endpoints on a network. These endpoints maybe serviced by a server, a distributed computing system, a streamprocessor, etc. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) may also provide mayprovide communication to an electronic device. For example, rather thana typical server response, the server may also provision or indicate adata for content delivery network (CDN) to await download by theelectronic device at a later time, such as a subsequent activity ofelectronic device. Thus, data may be sent directly from the server, orother infrastructure, such as a distributed infrastructure, or a CDN, aspart of or separate from the system.

Typically, storage mediums can include any or some combination of thefollowing: a semiconductor memory device such as a dynamic or staticrandom access memory (a DRAM or SRAM), an erasable and programmableread-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable and programmableread-only memory (EEPROM) and flash memory; a magnetic disk such as afixed, floppy and removable disk; another magnetic medium includingtape; an optical medium such as a compact disk (CD) or a digital videodisk (DVD); or another type of storage device. Note that theinstructions discussed above can be provided on one computer-readable ormachine-readable storage medium, or alternatively, can be provided onmultiple computer-readable or machine-readable storage media distributedin a large system having possibly plural nodes, Such computer-readableor machine-readable storage medium or media is (are) considered to bepart of an article (or article of manufacture). An article or article ofmanufacture can refer to any manufactured single component or multiplecomponents. The storage medium or media can be located either in themachine running the machine-readable instructions, or located at aremote site from which machine-readable instructions can be downloadedover a network for execution.

In the foregoing description, numerous details are set forth to providean understanding of the subject disclosed herein. However,implementations may be practiced without some of these details. Otherimplementations may include modifications and variations from thedetails discussed above. It is intended that the appended claims coversuch modifications and variations.

1. A method at an image capture apparatus, the method comprising:receiving, at the image capture apparatus, a trigger to begin imagecapture; based on the trigger, starting image capture for a fixedduration; and providing image capture data to a processing service. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is data from a sensor on theimage capture apparatus or associated with the image capture apparatus.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is a message from acentral server.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is amessage from a second image capture apparatus.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the trigger includes one or more information elements selectedfrom: an event identifier; a device identifier for the second imagecapture apparatus; a position of the second image capture apparatus; arange around the second image capture apparatus for which image capturedata is needed; an alert type; an endpoint to report information to; atime of an event; the fixed duration; or a report timeslot.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising: determining a location of theimage capture apparatus; finding whether the image capture apparatus iswithin the range around the second image capture apparatus based on thelocation of the second device; and if the image capture apparatus iswithin the range, starting the image capture.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the providing the image capture data to the processing servicefurther includes providing at least one information item selected from:a device identifier for the image capture apparatus; an eventidentifier; a position of the image capture apparatus; and a bearing foran image sensor on the image capture apparatus.
 8. The method of claim1, further comprising: determining whether to relay the trigger toanother image capture apparatus; and if the trigger should be relayed,sending the trigger to the another image capture apparatus.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the another image capture apparatus is withina predetermined distance of the image capture apparatus.
 10. The methodof claim 1, wherein the image capture apparatus is affixed to a traileror shipping container as part of a fleet management system.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the image capture apparatus further reports alocation of the image capture apparatus to the processing service. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein the trigger is received based on thereported location of the image capture apparatus.
 13. An image captureapparatus comprising: a processor; a communications subsystem; and atleast one sensor for capturing images, wherein the image captureapparatus is configured to: receive, at the image capture apparatus, atrigger to begin image capture; based on the trigger, start imagecapture for a fixed duration; and provide image capture data to aprocessing service.
 14. The image capture apparatus of claim 13, whereinthe trigger is data from a sensor on the image capture apparatus orassociated with the image capture apparatus.
 15. The image captureapparatus of claim 13, wherein the trigger is a message from a centralserver.
 16. The image capture apparatus of claim 13, wherein the triggeris a message from a second image capture apparatus.
 17. The imagecapture apparatus of claim 16, wherein the trigger includes one or moreinformation elements selected from: an event identifier; a deviceidentifier for the second image capture apparatus; a position of thesecond image capture apparatus; a range around the second image captureapparatus for which image capture data is needed; an alert type; anendpoint to report information to; a time of an event; the fixedduration; or a report timeslot.
 18. The image capture apparatus of claim17, wherein the image capture apparatus is further configured to:determine a location of the image capture apparatus; find whether theimage capture apparatus is within the range around the second imagecapture apparatus based on the location of the second device; and if theimage capture apparatus is within the range, start the image capture.19. The image capture apparatus of claim 13, wherein image captureapparatus is further configured to provide the image capture data to theprocessing service by providing at least one information item selectedfrom: a device identifier for the image capture apparatus; an eventidentifier; a position of the image capture apparatus; and a bearing foran image sensor on the image capture apparatus.
 20. The image captureapparatus of claim 13, wherein the image capture apparatus is furtherconfigured to: determine whether the trigger needs to be relayed toanother image capture apparatus; and if the trigger needs to be relayed,send the trigger to the another image capture apparatus.
 21. The imagecapture apparatus of claim 20, wherein the another image captureapparatus is within a predetermined distance of the image captureapparatus.
 22. The image capture apparatus of claim 13, wherein theimage capture apparatus is affixed to a trailer or shipping container aspart of a fleet management system.
 23. The image capture apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the image capture apparatus further reports a locationof the image capture apparatus to the processing service.
 24. The imagecapture apparatus of claim 23, wherein the trigger is received based onthe reported location of the image capture apparatus.
 25. A computerreadable medium for storing program instructions, which, when executedby a processor of an image capture apparatus, cause the image captureapparatus to: receive, at the image capture apparatus, a trigger tobegin image capture; based on the trigger, start image capture for afixed duration; and provide image capture data to a processing service.